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City Know-hows
The sounds of our streets are closely linked to how people walk, cycle, and play. We reviewed global research showing that while traffic noise is associated with less activity; natural and human sounds often relate to safer and more enjoyable urban movement.
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Target audience
City planners, Transport officers, Acoustic consultants
The problem
In many cities, traffic noise dominates streets and often acts as a barrier to outdoor activities. While traffic is known to be detrimental, less attention is paid to how other everyday sounds—such as birdsong or human voices—relate to activity and well-being. Without this knowledge, cities risk designing spaces that look functional but feel uncomfortable, potentially limiting residents’ motivation to move actively in their daily lives.
What we did and why
We reviewed 90 studies that examined the link between soundscapes and physical activity. We sought to understand how different urban sounds, including traffic, human, natural, and other noise sources, relate to walking, cycling, and recreation. By comparing findings across neighborhoods and street scales. We identified gaps and provided guidance for future practice. Our aim is to support healthier city planning where soundscapes are not ignored but seen as essential to active lifestyles.
Our study’s contribution
Our study highlights that:
• Traffic noise is consistently associated with lower levels of walking and cycling.
• Natural sounds, such as water and birdsong, are linked to increased recreation and satisfaction.
• Human sounds show mixed patterns, sometimes relating to safety, other times linked to avoidance.
• Cycling contexts and city-scale dynamics remain largely under explored.
Moving forward; integrating subjective feedback with objective data is key to understanding how acoustic environments support active living.
Impacts for city policy and practice
This review highlights that urban soundscapes are a critical dimension of planning for active cities. Strategies that mitigate traffic noise while preserving positive acoustic features offer opportunities to:
• Support walking and cycling as sustainable transport options.
• Foster environments conducive to residents’ health and well-being.
• Contribute to neighborhoods that feel safer, more enjoyable, and inclusive.
We call on planners and public health officials to integrate soundscape quality into urban design standards for healthier futures.
Further information
Full research article:
Assessing the impact of urban soundscapes on physical activity: insights from a systematic review by Yuting Wang, Yue Wu, Tong Qin, Nico Van de Weghe & Haosheng Huang
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